New York, NY – Today, members of the New York Immigration Coalition, DACA recipients, and elected officials gathered at Castle Clinton at Battery Park in lower Manhattan, America’s first immigration station, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Established by the Obama Administration in 2012, this extraordinarily successful policy has transformed the lives of over 600,000 young “Dreamers” by making them eligible to apply for driver's licenses, social security, and work permits.
Immigrant Advocates Recognize Key Investments in NYC FY23 Budget, But Demand More As Elected Leaders Fail Immigrant Students
New York, NY—Late last night, the New York City Council passed the FY 2023 budget. Included in its investments was $16.6 million for the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP); $6.5 million for Adult Literacy and an enhancement of $6.7 million in Adult Literacy Baseline funding; and support for Language Justice, which includes $3 million for Language Services Cooperatives and $2 million for a Community Interpreter Bank.
As Pandemic Inequity Widens, Advocates and Allies Demand NYC Invest in Immigrant Communities in FY23 Budget
New York, NY—Today, the New York Immigration Coalition, allies, and immigrant New Yorkers rallied on the steps of City Hall to demand equitable access to opportunity and inclusion in New York City’s fiscal year 2023 budget. Advocates are calling for a $25 million fund to implement the Our City, Our Vote law (Local Law 11-2022); additional investments in educational programs for immigrant youth and families, including $4 million to expand the Linking Immigrant Children to Early Childhood Education (LIFE) project citywide and $2.1 million in a transfer school pilot program; maintaining the $4 million in funding for Access Health NYC; renewing $58.2 million in funding for immigration legal services; and investing $2 million to continue the Key to the City program.
Elected Officials and Immigrant Advocates Rally As Legal Proceedings Begin On Local Law 11-2022
Staten Island, NY – Today, the Our City, Our Vote coalition, a group of advocates fighting for expand access to the ballot box held a press conference alongside elected officials at the Richmond County Supreme Court ahead of the start of the legal proceedings around the lawsuit against the Our City, Our Vote law (Local Law 11-2022). Enacted in January, Local Law 11-2022 allows lawful permanent residents and persons authorized to work in the United States in New York City to participate in municipal elections beginning in 2023.
New Yorkers spoke about how Local Law 11 would empower immigrant communities by giving them a say in who represents them in local elections, while also denouncing the lawsuit as another instance of restricting voters’ access to the ballot box.
Advocates Decry Albany’s Failure to Make Progress on Vital Immigrant Rights Agenda
Albany, NY - Following the end of the legislative session in Albany, immigrant rights advocates, led by the New York Immigration Coalition, pointed out the lack of real progress in moving forward an immigrant rights agenda that meaningfully improves the lives of immigrant New Yorkers.
Immigrant New Yorkers Can’t Wait: Leading Immigration Advocates, Elected Officials Demand Legislature Pass ‘New York for All’ and ‘Stop Immigration Bond Abuse’ Acts
Albany, NY—Today, alongside elected officials and impacted voices, the New York for All Coalition and Break the Shackles came together to demand the passage of the New York for All Act (S3076A/02328A) and the Stop Immigration Bond Abuse Act (S7475A/A7770B). Both bills aim to prevent the violation of immigrant New Yorkers’ rights by preventing police and local law enforcement in New York from conspiring with ICE and protecting immigrant communities from predatory immigration bond companies.
NYIC Denounces Title 42 Injunction, Demands Immediate End to Discriminatory Trump-Era Policy
New York, NY—Today, U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays issued an injunction on the elimination of the Trump-era Title 42 policy, which will continue to deny people their right to claim asylum under the guise of public health concerns. The New York Immigration Coalition demands the immediate termination of Title 42 and expanded protections for migrants and asylum seekers.
Immigrant Advocates Call Out Failure Of Draft Maps To Fully Represent New York’s Diverse Communities
New York, NY - Today, in response to the draft Congressional and State Senate maps released by the court-appointed special master, the NYIC released the following statement:
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition and NYIC Action:
“When the New York Immigration Coalition and our member and partner organizations worked tirelessly to ensure New Yorkers were counted for the census, we expected redistricting maps that would recognize and reflect the diversity of New York and the demographics changes of the past decade.
NYIC Denounces Rep. Stefanik’s History of Misinformation and Racism That Led to the Murderous Rampage in Buffalo
New York, NY—Today, Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) issued a statement on the Buffalo shooting that continued to advance anti-immigrant theories in the aftermath of violence from a self-proclaimed white supremacist.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Rep.
Immigrant Rights Advocates Demand Justice for Buffalo Victims of White Supremacist Mass Shooting
Buffalo, New York—Earlier today, ten people lost their lives and three people were injured at a Buffalo-area NY TOPS supermarket after a white supremacist opened fire on them.
“We are devastated that ordinary people cannot be safe from gunfire and anti-Black violence at their local grocery store.